Bubba Watson takes lead midway through Travelers

Although Bubba Watson will always have a soft spot in his heart for Augusta National, he enjoys playing TPC at River Highlands nearly as much.

By Neill Ostrout

The Bulletin

By Neill Ostrout

Posted Jun. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM

By Neill Ostrout

Posted Jun. 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM

CROMWELL — Although Bubba Watson will always have a soft spot in his heart for Augusta National, he enjoys playing TPC at River Highlands nearly as much.

Watson shot a 3-under-par 67 Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Patrick Reed and Padraig Harrington after two rounds of the Travelers Championship.

“I love this place. I always play well here,” Watson said.

The 2010 Travelers champion was at 10-under 130. Reed and Harrington were at 8-under after both shot 66s in the second round. Four players — including 2007 champion Hunter Mahan — were tied for fourth at 7-under.

Hoffman falters

Charley Hoffman, who held the first-round lead after a 61 on Thursday, followed that with a 73 in a round that included three bogeys and a double-bogey.

One week after winning the U.S. Open at Merion, Justin Rose was tied for 12th at 5-under.

Watson, whose last victory came in the 2012 Masters, has played well in this event often.

He’s finished in the top 15 four times in six previous starts, including that win in 2010 — his first on the PGA Tour — and a second-place finish last year.

“The tee shots set up well for me. I like the way they look,” Watson said. “There’s about two tee shots on the whole course that are really tough for me. Other than that, the course sets up well for me.”

With two top-10 finishes and six top-25s this season, Watson is currently 57th in FedEx Cup points. He finished tied for 32nd in last week’s U.S. Open.

More consistent

“It’s funny. Last year if I don’t hit the hook shot and I don’t win, I don’t have a win all year, even though it was my best year on Tour,” Watson said, referring to his sweeping left-to-right recovery shot from the trees in his playoff win at Augusta. “I’m looking to be more consistent. I had a lot more top 25s over the last few years, a lot less cuts.”

Watson began his day with a bogey at No. 10 but made four birdies after that in the relatively benign morning conditions. Windy conditions kept many of those who began their rounds in the afternoon from matching the scores of their early rising counterparts.

Still, Harrington managed a 66 despite teeing off at 12:40 p.m.

“It did get windy out there,” Harrington said. “It was a challenge but there were still opportunities to make birdies.”

Long drought

Harrington hasn’t won since the 2008 PGA Championship, his third career major. The 41-year-old Irishman has missed four cuts this season but is playing relatively well lately.

He finished 10th at the St. Jude Classic two weeks ago and tied for 21st at the U.S. Open last week.

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Harrington shot consecutive rounds of 4-under-par but called his second effort “a fighting 66.”

“I didn’t hit it perfect in any shape or form on the first two days,” said Harrington, who was in contention to win here in 2010 and 2012. “So I’m not exactly brimming with confidence.”

Rose admits to being a bit tired but still shot 68 Friday.

“I haven’t hit the ball quite as solidly as I would have liked to,” said Rose, who made bogey on River Highlands’ two easiest holes, Nos. 2 and 15. “I just think I need to maybe go and take care of my body a little bit, some stretching, some physio, maybe a workout, just work out a few kinks. I feel a little bit stiff and tight in the back and the hips.”